Marrakesh - The land of God - the land for tourists

Marrakesh - one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We reached around 10 pm and the city was still on high. We were little lost in locating our hotel. I had to take lead to search hotel, this search was a thrilling experience. We were strolling through some dark and weird looking streets. We followed an old person through narrow & dark streets. One street was completely dark, no sign of any human existence; we were about to turn back but decided to continue for the final and last stretch. Luck favored us and we finally found the hotel. It was decent hotel with nice people. Owner holds a strong sense of humor and staff is very cooperative and focused to the service. We had our breakfast on terrace with full team. It was just amazing, breeze and breakfast both were superb. 

Team Breakfast

We roam around to visit tombs, palaces and Medina of Marrakesh. 

Team looking for places

In queue for tomb

Marrakesh Medina is amazing. It is full of life. Very touristy place with lots many shops, everyone offering something unique. Dresses, shoes, leather goods and spices. We had lunch on terrace with amazing view of spice market. Post lunch strolled through souke, shopping couple of items with best bargainer in team.

Moroccan spices

Spice Market

Evening we visited square for snacks and dinner followed a disaster experience at one restaurant.

Nice place but disastrous experience

Next day after breakfast started our journey to the Atlas mountain. One of the amazing places to visit in Morocco. We can do hiking till top most points of Atlas mountains. It takes around 2 days and night of journey through some typical Berber villages. You can feel the strong Berber culture and cuisines on this happening route. We did not have time to go so deep inside so we decided to visit near by village and a water fall near by.

We climbed up to the fall. It was quite thrilling & fun experience with the team. Our guide Said is a big Bollywood fan, he kept everyone entertained through his songs and SRK poses. We exchanged and sang some of the Bollywood songs. Finally we traced back to Casablanca.

Michael and Hamid posing SRK

An interesting Day at OFPPT - back to college days

Amazing day in many aspects - hottest day of our stay, lostest day of  our stay so far and most interesting day of our stay. We started from hotel and were lost for 2 hours, that is why I called it lostest day. We kept on wondering from one center to another center.
We visited 3 OFPPT centers before reaching to the correct one. We were about to leave the final one as well but Patrick managed to save us some how, may be his 7th sense.
 

We started with our introduction with the full group, just telling about us and our IBM experience. Post introductions we were split into 3 groups to discuss on three different subjects, like for us it was information technology. We had Grant, Sue, Garry, Michael and myself; each of us from different background and bringing different expertise. We tried to keep session interactive, we asked questions and motivated them to speak up by giving them goodies. It was a big ice breaker and guys started to open with their thinking, questions and understanding. It took me back to college days, specially during last 2 semesters when we had to prepare our self for interviews, listen to people and learn from them. Learn from success stories of people getting jobs and other seniors. It was fun and it was the necessity of time. Organize meetings, manage people and resources. Coordination for various events and timings etc. Interacting with the students here in OFPPT was like re-living the life again. Hope we answered their questions well, cleared their doubts and gave some moral boosting insights to have a successful career in IT. Different and satisfying experience. As always, Bollywood rocks in Morocco and people were able to connect with me through Bollywood.

Students feedback was very positive, impressive and heart touching.

Every one felt connected since each of us had been through that phase during our initial days. It was a great opportunity to give back to the society. 
 
I would like to thank all people involved to provide us this great opportunity and wish that each of the students succeed and do proud to them, parents and their beautiful nation.
Inshallah !!!!!

We had a nice dinner at Rick's Cafe (from movie Casablanca) and walked back to hotel.

#ibmcsc, #ibmcscmorocco5

Summary of week 1 in Casablanca

Our exploration to city started with our touch down to one of the most beautiful country on the world map. Started our journey with excellent authentic Moroccan dinner with the team. This was my first encounter with the Moroccan cuisines. I had Couscous with mint tea which was amazing. Interaction with team was excellent. Everyone was bringing something different expertise and skill to the table. It was excellent evening and was enriching experience I was overwhelmed with the stuff people were doing apart from their regular professional work. Next morning was planned for more formal introduction of the team and sharing of gifts. Everyone got gifts for all team members which was unique and well thought. Every gift item was a representation of the rich culture they were coming from. An excellent interactive session to engage together 15 people from 10 different countries. Nabil and Imane were and still are the ambassadors of Moroccan fun, happy life and lifestyle.

Our formal and fun filled introduction session was followed by a long walk across the city of Casablanca. Imane - our program manager and guide to the best places anywhere in the world, was guide that after noon. We walked by the port of Casablanca and went to one of the amazing Moroccan restaurant Sqala. It is an amazing restaurant serving lot many Moroccan cuisines. One dish was very unique that meat is cooked overnight and is one of the major attraction at the restaurant. Unfortunately we were late for it, it was already gone by 3 pm. I had Tagine which was amazing. Every one of us ate something unique and local and was very pleased. Lunch was followed by another walk along the Mosque Hasan 2 which is located by the sea is one of the most beautiful structure in the city.

Had an ice-cream break in between and lazily strolled to hotel. None of us were in a condition to have dinner so we went to Sky28 for a nice hangout and signed off for the day.
Sunday morning was planned for deeper exploration to the city of Casablanca with the local guide Ahmad. He was an aged gentleman filled with lot of local humor and knowledge. He definitely beat all of us in terms of speed, he walked really fast. Walked us through the port, ricks cafe, mosque and some unexplored area in Casablanca. Followed by walk to one of the busiest streets in Casablanca - the Medina. 

You could see the real Morocco with all sorts of shops and vendors selling some best of the products like fruits, vegetables, mints and meats. It was chaotic with local people trying to bargain and buy something. Market was meant to be for locals so no one approached to us to buy anything. It was fun. 

Monday started with formal meeting in IBM office and the clients.  We went one of the testing center and it was first hand experience what these people are doing. Prevention education followed by HIV testing. Good to know few things but some of the stuff we saw was little disturbing specially age of professional workers.

We went to the top of palace to get a panoramic view of the city. Rest of the week was more dedicated towards information gathering with the clients. We went to Fes on Thursday, I will write separately about it. Followed by trip to Chefchawan and Tangier. Will capture details in another blog soon. Rest of the weekend was with the client for requirement gathering.

#ibmcsc, #ibmcscmorocco5

Shades of sunset in Morocco

Color is biggest attraction of Morocco. Every city is colored in different color and people are full with different colors of life. Any place you go a unique colorful life will follow you. During first 2 weeks, along with all the colors, I noticed a uniformity in color. The color of sunset. I have seen sunset colors from many beautiful places with so many variations in terms of color.
Sunset in Morocco got some unique features (personally observed - not proven scientifically) which is not very evident in many parts of the world. Sunset time from bright to sunset is very small window. Sun goes really fast down with spreading pre or post colors.
Sunset is not followed by a dark red coloration which is evident at other places rather a small portion with orange to red coloration, rest normal sky at dusk.

I captured some pictures from our moving bus while enjoying the colorful event organized and orchestrated by nature. This is an additional feather in colorful Morocco - the color of sunset. To see through your own eyes is a different hypnotizing experience staring at sun set in Morocco. I am loving it.

On the way to Fes

View from Cabasten

On the route to Marrakesh

On route from Marrakesh to Casablanca

 


 

Friday, May 09 2014 -Couscous lunch followed by trip to Marrakech

I drafted this on Friday before leaving but could not post due to connectivity


Weekend 3 and we are again on road. This is fantastic experience. The week just passed, was quite productive with client. We did multiple sessions for requirement gathering which were very  informative and detailed; aligned with their requirement. We agreed to our deliverables and started working on them. Client is very happy with the way we are understanding their requirement and proceeding ahead. We all are positive that we will be able to provide some tangible solution to their biggest challenges. People are very warm and friendly in the organization. Director of organization hosted us for an excellent Couscous lunch today cooked by one of the diehard Bollywood fan Malika from organization.

Cuisine was local and approach was local. We ate from same plate which was quite pleasant experience.

Not to miss to mention about founder of the organization, Dr Hammich. She is a wonderful and very positive person who always motivates everyone around her and even people meeting for first time.

We have been exploring Morocco and that job still continues with more eager and enthusiasm. After visiting Fes, Chefchawan and Tanger we are Heading to Marrakech. Marrakech is one among the top cities you must visit in your life time. Have heard lot and read lot about the city, now it's time to explore and experience on my own. Team is full with enthu and zeal to explore the unexplored in Marrakech. Here we go CSC Morocco 5 team rocks!!!!!

#ibmcsc, ibmcscmorocco5

Amazing experience at work

Great day at work; started day with synchronization among team member i.e. to bring everyone on same page in terms of our SOW, deliverables, check points and final presentation etc

Actual work started after synchronization work where I have to lead conversation with Director of Administration and Finance for the requirement gathering. The most exciting part of the story is that she hardy understands English and I hardly understand French. Patrick, he is from France, has to do the translations for both of us. I really sympathize him since he has to do double work of a team member and a translator. Most beautiful part him being translator is that he does the translation with context instead of purely linguistic translation. Most of the other teams are struggling with those translators

Requirement gathering session

Requirement Gathering Session

Requirement

I think that is the beauty of philosophy behind CSC program. Challenge yourself to work environments where you have cultural, linguistic and other barriers. I am loving it

Complete 1/3 of the requirement gathering during pre-lunch session, waiting for post lunch session. It is going to be tough since post lunch session for me always like siesta time. God have mercy on me

Team is working sincerely post lunch 

Sincere Team members

Other 2 friends on team are busy in designing database solution for various KPI’s and statistical reporting. Gerry goes “first time in my life I am doing data modeling on small pieces of paper” basic creativity always rocks.

I missed to take picture how we secured these papers, will try to get and post tomorrow…

#ibmcsc, #ibmcscmorocco5